Rail-joint.



e. H. mCKE.

HAILJOINT.

APPLICATION FILED APR.23|1917.

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afl/wem fot Ans Parana rien.

GEORGE H. RICKE, 0F CINCINNATI, OHIO.

BAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept.. iii, 19th Application led pr123, 1917. SeralIiYo. 163,943.

j useful Improvements in Rail-Joints; and I do declare the following to be arfull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. j Y

This invention relates to improvements in rail joints and more particularly to those in which parts are welded together,

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and effective rail joint by means of which the meeting ends of the rails are not only firmly held together' while allowing for expansion and contraction, but the rail ends are so engaged by the iish plates and locking plate that the joint will be prevented from breaking downward and the rails will always be held on a .level and in longitudinal alinement with each other.

Another object is to provide a method whereby the parts may be readily assembled and securely held in position.

Other objects will appear as the description proceeds.

Like reference numerals are used throughout the several views to designate oorresponding parts.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the slotted rail;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the iish plate;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the locking plate 5;

Fig. 4 is a sectional the joint; i

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the locking plate 6 inverted; and

Fig. 6 is a side elevation showing the joint in locked position.

`The rails l are provided with transverse slots or openings 2 formed in the extreme ends of their web portions. Fish plates 3 are placed on the opposite sides oit' the rails 1 and have slots or openings 4 which register with the opening in the said rails.

In order to hold the rails and sh plates together, I provide locking plates 5 which are inserted from opposite sides of the rails and which have shoulders 6 vertical thereto and extending the length of .SaidL fish plates perspective view of These plates 5 are substantially right angular in end elevation. The length of the transverse slot 2 formed by the abutting ends `of the rails i is'slightly greater than that of the horizontal portion of the plate 5. This dierence or space 7 is left to allow orthe expansion or contraction of the rails due to diderent weather conditions One of the locking plates 5 is formed with `its vertical side extending downwardly and against the side of one fish plate and the other' locking plate has its vertical side extending upwardly and 0n the outside of the other fish plate. While the drawings show the verticalsides of the locking plates extending to the ends of the rish plates, it will be seen that they may be shortened to the length of the slots and serve their purpose equally well.

In making the joint I iirst place the rails l in alinement, thereby forming a slot 2. Next the iish plates 3 are placed on each side of the rails so that the openings 4C therein will register with the openings 2 in the rails. The horizontal loclringplates 5 are then inserted through the openings from each side so that the vertical shoulders or flanges 6 will abut against the outer side of the fish plates 2. j

When the parts of the joint are in position, a welded joint is formed connecting the exposed portions at 8 of the locking plates 5 on the opposite sides of the rails l, leaving the rails free of said plates. The vertical ianges 6 of the locking plates 5 should project beyond the ends of the slots in the fish plates 3 and outwardly to the edges of said fish plates and are united together in a welded joint 9.

In operation it will be seen that my improved method consists in forming abutting rails with transverse slots, and then placing slotted fish plates on opposite sides of the said abutting rails, after which I insert shouldered locking plates through the slots of the fish plates and rails from opposite sides thereof and' then weld the plates together either at point 9 or 8 or both, as before described.

It will be seen that I have made an improved rail joint which will not require any bolts to hold the rails together, and which will also compensate for expansion and contraction due to diiierent weather conditions.

Various changes in the form, proportion lia -and the minor details of construction may be of two track rails having transverse open--m ings,` a pair of plates having shoulders, said plates passing through said rail openings from opposite sides, said shoulders limiting the transversernovement of the plates, and a Welded joint connecting the two., plates but leaving thein free of the rails.

2v. rlhe combination of the abutting ends of track rails having transverse slots, a pair ot plates of right-angularly shape in cross section4 having their horizontal portions passed through said slot from opposite sides of the rail, the horizontal portions ofnsaid plate being of less length than the railsslot to allow Yfor expansion and contraction of the rail, and a welded joint connecting the exposed portions of the plates on opposite (Utopies of this patent may he obtained for v of track railshaving transverse slots therein,

fish plates on opposite sides vof the rails having slots alining with those in the rail,

a pair of locking plates of right angular shape in cross section having their horiz/:ontal portions projected through said alined slots from opposite sidesrof the rails and having their vertical "portions in contact with. the outer 'faces of the fish plates, said vertical Vflanges of the locking plates being projected beyond the ends of the slotsiinthe [ish plates, and a welded joint unitingsaid l verticalportions to the ish plates. Y In testimony whereof I have .hereunto set inyhand in the presence of two subscribing WIIQSSQS; i fj Y Y, j Y v "GEORGE .H RICKE. Witnesses:

4 THORNTON RSNYDER, RT. DIoKERsoN;

'five cents each, jby addressing the Commissioner of Patents.. Wuhingtomn'. f t i 

